Cross-cultural healing : an architectural response to Maori urban healthcare

Abstract

As an exchange student, New Zealand was uncharted territory, both culturally and environmentally. With a growing interest in the people and place affected by architectural design, I decided a project deeply rooted in the place made sense. Because of this, I chose to design a Maori-centered healthcare center, which correlates to the aspirations of Maori and Auckland District Health Board. The project site is located opposite Hayman Park, Manukau City, Auckland, where a large Maori population resides. The purpose of this project is to introduce a new conversation about contemporary cultural healthcare, something that differs from the standard healthcare typology. The design outcome is a strong visual building with cultural influences taken from the greater cultural landscape. The engagement with the natural environment, an important aspect to the Maori culture, is developed in several different stages of the overall design.